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Nib Help For A Nubie


holgamike

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I am a newly addicted FP enthusiast with a few entry level pens. I am so excited about the Baltimore Pen Show coming up on Saturday because I've never been to a show and I'm hoping to pick up many goodies (paper, a pen case, some ink etc.) One thing makes me nervous though. I have a Sheaffer Safari that writes incredibly well compared to my other pens and I get bummed when I write with the others because they are scratchy in comparison even though all are M nibs. I would love to have someone look at/adjust these other pens but I'm not sure how it will be received if I ask someone to tune a nib on a Lamy Safari and a Duke Carbon Fiber. Will people get annoyed if I ask for an adjustment on a couple $30 pens? Is it even worth it? Sorry for such elementary questions, just trying to avoid a little embarressment.

What is a normal price range for a typical nib repair?

 

Thanks so much! I can't wait for the show…...

There are only two things in life that you control: Attitude and Effort.

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You mean Lamy Safari? Whether or not a pen has a large tip or not has no bearing on its smoothness (I have a BB nib that has some feedback). People will be happy to look at your pens! What you will find is pen shows engender quite a collegial atmosphere and everyone is happy to help, especially if you are new to it all, because we're all terrible enablers. That being said, it would be a good idea to get a loupe while you're at the show so you can have a look at the nibs yourself, if not to adjust them then to at least see what the problem is.

I'm not sure the cost of slight adjustment (it's not a repair per se), but they are very simple to do so I would not expect to pay much if anything at all. But, seeing as theyre not expensive pens and the Safari nibs can be bought easily maybe have a go yourself? There are resources on here that tell you how, but like I said, a good loupe is the first step to adjusting :) maybe while you're picking one up you can ask the vendor how they normally adjust a slightly misaligned nib (I would suspect that is your problem, and that it isn't broken).

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I agree with the last post -- if they are inexpensive nibs (and easily and cheaply replaced in the case of the Safari), then you might just read up online about nib adjustment and try it yourself. Then you will have more $$$ for buying pens at the show.

 

If you don't want to do that, I think any nibworker will happily adjust anything your bring to the show. Your money is as green as anyone else's, right?

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Mike,

 

That is a major reason that many attend shows. There will probably be a number of nibmeisters there who will gladly work on your pens there. The best part is that you are right there to test them and give them feedback as to when they feel 'right'. That is a great advantage over sending them off. Don't be bashful about asking lots of questions and visiting with vendors. It's a great opportunity for learning and making friends in the FP community.Hopefully, it will be a wonderful experience!

 

Welcome to our addiction-

 

Clayton

"Not a Hooker Hooker, but rather a left-handed overwriter."

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oops I meant Scheaffer Ferari…so much for avoiding embarrassment :) and thanks for the quick reply and info. I will definitely look for a loupe at the show and spend some more time on FPN looking at adjustment tutorials.

There are only two things in life that you control: Attitude and Effort.

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Definitely don't have that nib adjusted -- just buy another nib (I think they are around $10) and do the Scotch tape removal trick to swap out your bum nib. You could pick up a couple Safari nibs for what tuning would cost you, and you could always put your problem nib back in and try some tine alignment and smoothing if you want to try and salvage it.

 

Graham

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Ha -- OK then. So much for the extra nibs. But yes for sure on the loupe. It is absolutely true that using a loupe and aligning the tines correctly will solve 90% of nib issues.

 

Graham

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Use the Lamy Safari to practice alignment and (if needed) smoothing on (get the smoothing kit from the Goulet's, it has a loupe and the smoothing supplies you need), have someone tune the Duke since replacing nibs on Chinese pens is tricky (not sure what the Duke costs, if it's easily replaceable you might as well try tuning it after the Safari is done). Also, some nibs are going to have feedback, just the way they're made (especially smaller nibs, all of my EFs have feedback and aren't as smooth as my Ms).

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